Panasonic has re-entered the twin tuner Freeview PVR market with a new model containing a 250GB hard drive and twin high definition tuners. The unit is capable of recording up to two programmes at the same time in standard definition or high definition if your area is already broadcasting FreeviewHD channels.

The quality of the recordings are as per the original broadcast because the twin tuner PVR directly records the actual transport stream. As this is a Freeview+HD PVR, the setting up of recordings is easy by simply selecting your programme from the using the 8 day electronic programme guide (EPG). If the programme is part of a series, the unit will ask if you would like to record just the one programme or all the programmes in the series for you, as they are broadcast.

Panasonics DMR-XW380 PVR has an impressive feature list. It will allow recording from external sources via the SCART or composite connectors at the back of the unit, making it easy to record from SKY, Virgin media or other machines. The Panasonic DMR-XW380 recorder also has an Ethernet port for connecting to your home network or broadband connection. This will allow users to watch TV recordings, AVCHD video and JPEG photo files or your PC or laptop and any other DLNA certified client, like Blu-ray players, set top boxes or portable devices in your network. The Panasonic DMR-XW380 also allows you to search and watch online video ad picture through YouTube and Picasa, as long as you have a broadband connection. Panasonic have told PVRJUNCTION they will be supplying wireless ‘dongles’ in case some customers prefer it to a wired Ethernet cable connection,  as an optional extra.

The DMR-XW380 contains a recordable DVD drive so as well as being able to watch DVDs on the same machine, you can transfer recordings from the hard drive and archive onto DVD. There is an SD card slot, compatible up to SD-XC, and a USB 2.0 port. DivX, camcorder home movies and photos can be transferred via SD memory card or USB to the hard drive or DVD. This is great as it removes a time-consuming process performed by the PC for transferring and storing HD Camcorder footage. As well as HD images and videos, the Panasonic DMR-XW380 has space for your music collection too. The DMR-XW380 is pre-installed with “Gracenote” database will allocate album and some title to all your tracks and even update itself as time goes on.

Existing Panasonic owners will feel at home with the DMR-XW380 user interface, though we do notice little details here and there have been spruced up since Blu-Ray machines from 2009. The recordings library can now list all recorded programmes or the programmes list can be browsed via genre ‘tabs’. We’ll add a better example of the user interface from YouTube in due course.

The Panasonic Freeview+HD PVR will be available in June and will initially go on sale for around £500-£600, depending on where you shop and the length of warranty included in the price.

Panasonic allow pricing information for its forthcoming freesat+ recorders to be released today.

As reported earlier on PVR Junction (LINK) there will be three variants of this twin tuner, dual recording, Freesat PVR. One with a DVD recorder complimenting the 250GB hard drive – its called the DMR-XS350. The flagship model, the DMR-BS850, has a 500GB hard drive and includes DVD and blu-ray (recordable) disk drive.

For our last report we thought it fair to prepare potential customers of the likely asking price, but today Panasonic have outlined the following price points: DMR-BS850 £999. There will be a 250B version available for £100 less, called the DMR-BS750. The DMR-XS350 will cost £699.

Release is currently estimated at June 2009, subject to satisfactory finalising of the firmware and final Freesat Approval.

Panasonic have been in contact with PVR Junction this morning to provide further information about Blu-Ray recorder developments. The electronics giant are currently studying how to come into the UK market with blu-ray high definition recorders, and they do find the Freesat platform today as having the most potential.

Whilst also confirming Panasonic are in discussions with Freesat about these recorders, they would like to point out that it is too early to confirm the product or when it will be released. PVR Junction was told that despite what some might read on the internet, which Panasonic says is based on many assumptions; there really is no further concrete information available for Panasonic to share at this stage.

We had a a good discussion with Panasonic today and are quite excited about the kind of products we could be using over the next year or two. Going forward there will be some interesting developments and Panasonic will be keeping PVR Junction up to date on concrete plans for new products. Together with our industry related Panasonic reporting, we hope these official inside developments will provide the best quality source for all things Panasonic/PVR related.

An official Panasonic statement has been put together and will be made available around lunch time today.

Link to Press Response can be found Here

A Wotsat blog article today says Panasonic have advised that the CE company do not have Freesat recorder plans to reveal at present. This is the same statement PVR Junction and other online publishers have received this week from Panasonic UK. Our advise, like last week, is to do like us and wait for any official news or statements from Freesat or Panasonic on this, as and when, they are ready to do so.

Last week PVR Junction commented on Panasonics plans for the DMR-BW500 in the UK as not being a twin tuner terrestrial Blu-Ray recorder, but a satellite one and that discussions with Freesat taking place, as Panasonic execs at trade stands reveal earlier. This is exciting news, however, Panasonic UK were unaware of this and have no further comment to make at this time.

Relevant video snippet clip below

[youtube:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vLKCmLXZhAc 285 234]

Update 16:00:

As Blu-Ray and Panasonic fans, we are excited to say Wotsat has changed its blog title originally titled ‘Panasonic quashes Freesat Blu-ray PVR rumours’. Their article today picked up on PVR Junctions story and stated “Panasonic has told Wotsat that it has no plans to launch a combination hard disc and Blu-ray PVR with built-in Freesat reception.”

Since publishing our page here on PVR Junction this lunch time, together with the small video clip showing Panasonic own Freesat statements at IFA on the internet, the Wotsat article is now titled “Updated: Panasonic considering Freesat Blu-ray PVR” and goes on to now say ”Panasonic is considering launching a Blu-ray recorder for Freesat when more HD channels are added to the service.”

Of course, many of our readers may be forgiven for being already under the impression this is certainly a possibility; considering the Panasonic news articles on PVR Junction on the 13th September and 11th October. In a turn around Panasonic has pointed out to Wotsat this afternoon that they will release the blu-ray recorder in the UK but the Panasonic spokes person “can not give a date yet”. As with other EU countries we know Panasonics policy is to release this recorder in areas where customers have access to high definition broadcasting.

At PVR Junction, we expect during 2009 there will be not only BBC and ITV (as is now) but also Channel 4 hi definition on Freesat. Freeview is expected to roll out its high definition broadcasting on DTT from 2009 also. BBC, ITV and Channel HD channel offerings have today been accepted by Ofcom for Freeview HD. A 4th HD slot on Freeview HD is thought a strong possibility, leaving the passage for FIVE, Virgin or other broadcasters in with a chance to feature on the HD platform should they see value.

Most of our readers will already be aware that Panasonic are launching a twin HD tuner 500GB PVR with DVD integrated Blu-ray disk recorder in Europe. Due for release starting in France later this month, the DMR-BW500 has been proudly sitting out on display at this summers IFA and  IBC exhibitions. Speaking to journlists during the roadshows M2N Michael Friedrich from Panasonic explains the strategy:

In general to launch a HD recorder the requirement for us is that you have enough free to air content. on air, already available. So that the consumer really can record a lot of content in high definition on their recorder. So in France it became clear already very early that high definition content would be available in sufficient quantity from this autumn. This is why we developed the first model in Europe for France mainly.

With high definition channels now starting on freesat, and freeview HD channels from 2009 – the question is when will we see this recorder in the UK:

So in the UK we are in close discussion with freest. The technology is a bit different that’s why can not simply use the France version. In France its based on DVB-T, the UK version will be satellite. But we are in discussions, and will conclude when it will come to UK soon.

Freesat is the new, free, digital satellite television service from the BBC and ITV. Freesat launched on Tuesday 6 May with free digital channels – television, radio, interactive – plus BBC HD and now ITV HD. Freesat’s channel line-up will grow each month, with up to 200 channels on air by the end of the year.

Freesat will be introducing Freesat+ next month – its digital recorder platform – which includes advanced recording features.  Humax is providing the first available high definition twin tuner PVR with Freesat+ branding around the same time. Metronics have indicated their intention of providing their Freesat+ recorder already and is due to be released in 2009. As ever, we await the official announcements by Freesat and Panasonic UK over the next few months. Lets hope their discussions are fruitful and Panasonic’s vision of the UK freesat PVR version is not too long a wait.

Update: Panasonic Press Response

London, 24 October 2008. Panasonic is actively seeking the opportunities to enter the HD recorder category in Europe as early as possible since we have most advanced technology for Hi-def / Blu-ray recording products in the industry.
Public awareness of the HD recorders that we have introduced in other regions such as Australia and France is growing, and it is understandable for the public to be asking questions about when we can introduce such products in the UK.

We are, of course, studying how to come to market with such products in the UK especially since we have enjoyed leading market share performance in the DVD-R market.

The products that we can launch are dependent on the spec on the respective platforms.  In the UK currently, the most clarified potential for development of such products is on the Freesat platform.
Whilst we can say we are in discussion with Freesat on the matter, and can say that we see good potential for recordable products on this platform, we are not yet at the stage where we can confirm actual merchandise or schedule. There is no concrete information to share at this stage.

To promote the introduction of Panasonic Freesat BD Recorder or other HD recordable products to the UK public at this time via any media could be potentially misleading and we can already see the spread of information on-line that is based on many assumptions.

Panasonic have recently unleashed a new 500GB PVR. Starting out in Japan, and then onto Australia two months ago, the DMR-BW500 is now heading for Europe. Panasonic intend to release the PVR in those European countries which are going Hi Def. That could mean a release in the UK by this time next year with the arrival of Freeview HD in 2009. The BBC, ITV and Channel Four all aim to be among the select group of channels broadcasting in HD on Freeview next year. The French have already started rolling out HD on their digital terrestrial platform and so it’s not surprising the machine is now being released in France.

Sporting twin DTT tuners (both High Definition), the machine is capable of recording two digital channels at the same time. Recordings can be set easily via the 7 day EPG. The PVR can record from external sources too, and includes a Blu-Ray drive.

Yes a Blue-Ray disk drive. Not only that, it’s a recordable Blu-Ray drive so it is possible to archive material onto High Definition Blu-Ray disc. With the cost of Blu-Ray disks as high as they are currently, perhaps it is just as well the recorder supports other recording formats such as DVD-RAM and DVD-R. As a Blu-Ray player the machine is capable of top quality playback in the form of 1080p24. The Panasonic DMR-BW500 includes “Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD” or P4HD Processor to render high-quality progressive images. It also includes “PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus” which achieves sharper images by improving colour reproduction – producing cinematic images to rival the original quality of the movie.

Dual recording twin tuner PVRs aren’t exactly new, however for one to include a DVD recordable drive this certainly is breaking new ground. Programmes do not have to be recorded to the hard drive before being archived to DVD. There is an option to record straight to DVD or Blu-Ray. You can even record one digital channel to the hard drive and record a second digital channel to DVD/Blu-Ray disc at the same time.

An SD slot, Firewire and USB ports provides the unit with a means of transferring pictures and video. Unlink the Australian model, there is a network connection at the back which allows access to exclusive on-line bonus features via BD-Live and BONUSVIEW. We hope to bring you more news on this product soon.

If you see this machine available in the EU, would you be tempted to buy one?